Long Covid and ME
Prolonged and severe ME/CFS-like symptoms following infection with the COVID-19 virus are being recognised world-wide as a consequence of this global pandemic. These symptoms include but are not limited to profound fatigue, cough, breathlessness, muscle and body aches, palpitations, and cognitive impairment. These symptoms can be so severe in some patients that they become wheelchair-bound or bedbound1. This phenomenon has been given a variety of labels including “Long Covid”, “post-COVID syndrome” or “Chronic COVID-19” and onset can stem from even mild COVID-19 symptoms2. With the rise in global infections, this group is continuously growing. The Covid Symptom Tracker App, a UK initiative saw that even as many as one in 50 people had “long Covid” symptoms that persisted after 90 days. There is currently over 25,000 members in the Long Covid Support Group on Facebook3.
Many patients, including health care professionals, who were once fit and healthy have struggled to return to work. In a manifesto written by health care professionals suffering from the devastating aftereffects of the COVID-19 virus, they have outlined many steps that need to be taken in response to these persisting symptoms4.
The severity of this condition has been recognized Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of the World Health Organization (WHO) stated
“We have received your SOS. We have heard loud and clear that long COVID needs recognition, guidelines, research and ongoing patient input and narratives, to shape the WHO response from here on2.”
The experience of people who are not recovering from COVID-19 has been likened to Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). Like ME/CFS, “Long Covid” appears to affect multiple organ systems. Symptoms present differently between each patient and may shift over time. Many experiences are shared between both patient groups including post- exertional malaise, myalgia and severe neurological symptoms5,6.
Professor Paul Garner, infectious disease specialist at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, who is suffering the lingering and debilitating state after COVID-19 infection stated
“I have sympathy for people with chronic fatigue syndrome now, and I believe this disease fast-tracks you into experiencing these symptoms6.”
Some are suggesting that ME/CFS and “Long Covid” are synonymous. There is cause for concern over the potential that a subset of those infected with the COVID-19 virus may develop ME/CFS over time. Currently, insufficient time has passed, and further research is required. Findings may shed light on similarities and differences. Time may also reveal other potential long-term implications of COVID-19 infection including immune dysfunction or fibrosis of the lungs as found in other infectious conditions such as MERS and SARS7.
Important considerations may be shared between both ME/CFS and COVID-19 communities including pacing in symptom management and the potential detrimental effects of forced graded exercise8.
Understanding and treating both conditions requires an integrated effort from health practitioners, patients, researchers, healthcare services, public health professionals, educators, policy makers and society at large. Collaboration across these often-siloed viewpoints could bring about a common frame of reference to increase awareness, understanding and support for patients4.
____________________________________________________________________
1From ‘brain fog’ to heart damage, COVID-19’s lingering problems alarm scientists – https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/07/brain-fog-heart-damage-covid-19-s-lingering-problems-alarm-scientists
2Long COVID: let patients help define long-lasting COVID symptoms – https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02796-2
3Long Covid Support Group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/longcovid/
4From doctors as patients: a manifesto for tackling persisting symptoms of covid-19 – https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m3565
5Coronavirus patients with even mild cases of COVID-19 are taking months to recover and suffering extreme fatigue – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-19/covid-fatigue-one-of-worst-symptons-patients-say/12252602
6Research Examines Links Between ‘Long COVID’ and ME/CFS – https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/936252
7Pulmonary fibrosis secondary to COVID-19: a call to arms? – https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(20)30222-8/fulltext
8An Offering: ME/CFS Resources and Support for the COVID-19 Long Haulers – https://www.healthrising.org/blog/2020/08/05/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-resources-support-long-haulers/
No responses yet